ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Who Can Apply for The Self Employed Program?
To be eligible for this program, one must:
Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics
Be willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada
Meet the program’s selection criteria
Meet medical, security and other conditions
If you plan to live in Quebec as a business immigrant, you must first apply to the Government of Québec for a Selection Certificate.
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Note: IRCC has paused this program until January 2027
Relevant Experience
Relevant experience for a self-employed person means at least two years of experience. It must be during the period starting 5 years before the day you apply and ending on the day a decision is made on your application.
At a minimum, your experience must be:
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For cultural activities:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
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For athletics:
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2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
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2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
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A combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above
Selection Criteria
The application under self employed program is assessed on the basis of following points
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Experience
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Education
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Age
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Language abilities
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Adaptability
Selection Criteria | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
Education | 25 |
Experience | 35 |
Age | 10 |
Ability in English and/or French | 24 |
Adaptability | 6 |
TOTAL | 100 |
HOW TO APPLY
You can apply online by filling digital forms, or you can use an immigration representative.
An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can:
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Give you advice and help you with your application for a fee
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Help you prepare the forms and documents you need to upload
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Answer questions about the forms
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Communicate with us on your behalf through their own account.
DECISION ON YOUR APPLICATION
IRCC will make a decision on your application based on:
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Whether you meet the eligibility criteria for the program
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Whether you have enough money to support yourself and your family when you arrive in Canada
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The results of your medical exam and
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The information on your police certificate(s)
The office that processes your application will contact you if you need to send more documents or go to an interview.
​If your application is approved, IRCC will ask you to send your passport to the visa office to issue your permanent resident visa.
